Is chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma associated with neurosensory hearing loss?
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine whether chronic otitis media (COM) with cholesteatoma over time is associated with a decrease in neurosensory function.


METHODS
This study was a review of a database of all patients with cholesteatoma treated surgically.


METHODS
The study was conducted at a tertiary care medical center and specialty hospital.


METHODS
There were children and adults with unilateral COM with acquired, nontraumatic cholesteatoma in this study.


METHODS
All patients received preoperative pure-tone bone conduction and speech audiometry.


METHODS
Interaural difference between the cholesteatomatous and normal ears comparing bone conduction pure-tone average (BC-PTA), pure-tone threshold at 4,000 Hz (BC4000), and/or speech discrimination score (SDS) as measured by a repeated measures analysis of covariance, with age as a covariate was examined.


RESULTS
A significant difference between ears for SDS and BC4000 that does not vary with age was identified. A significant interaural difference for the BC-PTA that varies with patient age was identified.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma is associated with a decrease in neurosensory function, even in the absence of frank inner ear invasion.
Eisenman
D J
DJ
Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Parisier
S C
SC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D001844:Bone Conduction; D002648:Child; D002781:Cholesteatoma / Q000150:complications*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013063:Speech Discrimination Tests